International Top Five - Meltdown Sinks Original

April 19th, 2006

Ice Age: The Meltdown added another $60.34 million on 8303 screens in 57 markets for a total of $263.19 million in internationally and $410.42 million worldwide as of Monday. This means it took less than three weeks for the film to top the original's totals on both the international and worldwide box office, and that's with three more major markets left to open in, (South Korea, Italy, and Japan). The film added a dozen markets this weekend, but most of those were smaller in nature but did include $829,000 on 45 screens in Hong Kong and $516,000 on 110 in Thailand. Holdovers include an outstanding $12.37 million on 1111 screens in Germany for a two-week total of $37.07 million there while in the U.K. it added $6.40 million on 503 screens to its total of $34.58 million in the market. It was even more impressive in Mexico given the relative size of the market, it remained in first place for the third weekend in a row with $2.54 million on 912 screens for a $24.72 million total. On the other hand, the film fell 60% during the weekend in Russia falling out of first place with $1.35 million on 397 screens for a three-week total of $15.92 million.

The Inside Man saw serious gains this weekend and that allowed it to remain in second place with $12.87 million on 2714 screens in 37 markets for a total of $51.15 million internationally and $126.57 million worldwide. The film opened in both France, ($2.4 million on 338 screens), and Spain, ($1.61 million on 256), but finished behind Ice Age: The Meltdown in both markets. Holdovers include Italy where the film remained in first place dipping just 6% to $1.69 million on 301 screens for a two-week total of $4.27 million. Its best market overall is the U.K. where the heist hit as brought in $11.29 million in four weeks, including $1.13 million this past weekend. The film is already playing in most major markets, but it should still have enough to top its domestic run before long.

The rest of the top five were all newcomers led by The Wild, which got off to a disappointing start at just $9.43 million on 2557 screens in 24 markets. The film's biggest and best opening came in Mexico where it finished second to the third weekend of Ice Age: The Meltdown with $1.72 million on 507 screens. The film had to settle for third in Spain with $1.54 million on 380 screens over the weekend and $2.10 million in total while in Italy it finished second with $1.36 million on 388 screens over the weekend and $1.47 million in total. The film has plenty more markets left to open in and will undoubtedly top its domestic run on the international scene, but it still be seen as a disappointment.

Fourth place goes to another day-and-date release, Scary Movie 4. The latest, but not last film in the franchise started its international run well back of its domestic with $9.24 million on 1070 screens in 8 markets including a first place, $1.96 million debut on 250 screens in Russia, ($2.18 million in total). That was a record for a Miramax movie in that market. Other power openings include $2.90 million on 385 screens over the weekend in the U.K. and $3.46 million in total and $2.24 million on 246 screens in Australia; in both markets the film earned a second place debut.

The final film in the top five was Meitantei Conan: Tanteitachi no requiem, or as it is known in English, Detective Conan: Requiem Of The Detectives. The film debuted in first place in Japan with $4.69 million on 293 screens and should have very strong legs in the market.